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Electricity (S8P5c)
1. Electricity is produced by the movement and distribution of electrons of an atom.
2. Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom from different distances. The distances are called
“shells” or “levels”. Electrons on the outer shells are the ones that move between atoms,
causing electricity.
3. When electrons move, they produce an electric current, which is the flow of electric charges.
4. Electric currents always flow from areas of higher potential energy to areas of lower
potential energy.
5. Materials that allow electric currents to flow through are called conductors. (wires, metals)
6.
Materials that do not allow it to flow through easily are called insulators (plastic, wood, rubber)
7. Electricity flows through paths called circuits. There are 2 kind of Circuits:
a. Series Circuit- A current that only allows for one possible flow of electricity.
The loads are in a line and the current must go from one load before it
goes to another.
A break in any part of the electrical flow stops electricity for the entire
circuit.
The more loads added, the less electrical flow each load has.
b. Parallel Circuit- There is more than one pathway for the electricity to flow.
 Each load has its own closed circuit pathway
 A break in one part of the circuit will not affect another part of the circuit.
 Each load uses full voltage from the energy source, so adding more loads
will not cause less electricity to travel.
8. The Parts of a Circuit are:

Energy source- where the electricity comes from when connectedsuch as batteries

Loads- any object that receives the electricity (light bulbs, radios, motors, etc.)

Conductor- the material the electricity flows through (wires, metals, etc.)

Switch (sometimes)-used to create or turn off the energy flow.

Resistor- lowers the amount of electrical flow so that there is not an overload